De La Cruz believed a blockbuster signing was imminent this past offseason.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz thought the team was about to land one of the biggest free agents in baseball this offseason, and he was not shy about sharing his excitement when he thought it was going to happen.
Before Kyle Schwarber signed a five-year, $150 million deal to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies in December, De La Cruz believed the three-time All-Star was heading to Cincinnati.
The star shortstop ran into Schwarber at the Reds' facility during his free agent visit, and the two had a short conversation that left De La Cruz feeling good about the team's chances.
"I thought we were going to get him," De La Cruz told The Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. "That was gonna be fun."
The Reds Made a Real Push
Cincinnati did not just kick the tires on Schwarber. The Reds brought him and his wife down to Great American Ball Park for a visit that included face time with owner Bob Castellini, manager Terry Francona and top front office members.
According to reports, Cincinnati put together an offer in the range of five years and $125 million, but the Phillies ultimately won the bidding war by going up to $150 million.
Schwarber, who grew up in Middletown, Ohio, said he was impressed by what the Reds had to offer but chose to stay in Philadelphia where he has built strong relationships with the fan base and the organization over the past four seasons.
De La Cruz was not the only one who thought the deal was going to happen.
Even Schwarber's own teammate Bryce Harper admitted he expected the slugger to sign with Cincinnati, saying he thought it was a done deal because of the hometown connection.
Cincinnati Pivoted to Eugenio Suarez
After missing out on Schwarber, the Reds turned to a familiar face and signed Eugenio Suarez to a one-year, $15 million contract with a mutual option for 2027.
Suarez spent seven seasons with Cincinnati from 2015 to 2021 and is coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw him belt 49 home runs with 118 RBI and an .824 OPS.
While Suarez is not the same caliber of hitter as Schwarber, who led the National League with 56 home runs and 132 RBI in 2025, the veteran slugger still brings plenty of pop to a Cincinnati lineup that finished 21st in home runs a season ago.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Reds finished the 2025 regular season with an 83-79 record and snuck into the postseason as the third and final National League Wild Card team before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
De La Cruz played all 162 games last season, hitting .264 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI and 37 stolen bases while earning his second straight All-Star selection.
Cincinnati is hoping that the combination of Suarez's power, a loaded starting rotation led by Hunter Greene and continued growth from De La Cruz will be enough to push the team deeper into October in 2026.
Projections have the Reds finishing around 79-83, but the front office and the players believe they can beat those expectations once again.
Even without Schwarber in the lineup, De La Cruz and the Reds are ready to prove they belong.